Physiological monitoring devices having sensing elements decoupled from body motion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020375482-A1
Application number	US-202016999861-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Jan 28, 2013
Publication date	Dec 3, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A monitoring device configured to be attached within a portion of an ear of a subject includes an elastomeric arm having opposite first and second end portions. A sensing element is located at the elastomeric arm second end portion and includes at least one energy emitter configured to direct energy at a target region of the ear and at least one detector configured to detect an energy response signal from the target region or a region adjacent the target region. The monitoring device is configured such that the elastomeric arm first end portion engages the ear at a first location within the ear and such that the elastomeric arm resiliently bends such that a surface of the sensing element is urged into contact with the ear at a second location within the ear.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A monitoring device, comprising:
an elastomeric arm having opposite first and second end portions; and a sensing element located at the elastomeric arm second end portion, the sensing element comprising at least one energy emitter and at least one detector, wherein the at least one energy emitter is configured to direct energy at a target region of the ear and the at least one detector is configured to io detect an energy response signal from the target region or a region adjacent the target region, wherein the monitoring device is configured to be attached within a portion of an ear of a subject such that the elastomeric arm first end portion engages the ear at a first location within the ear and such that the elastomeric arm resiliently bends such that a surface of the sensing element is urged into contact with the ear at a second location within the ear.

2 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric arm first end portion is configured to be at least partially inserted into the ear canal.

3 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy emitter comprises at least one optical emitter and wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one optical detector.

4 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element comprises a surface having a window through which energy passes from the at least one energy emitter, and through which energy is collected by the at least one detector.

5 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element comprises a surface having a first window through which energy passes from the at least one energy emitter, and a second window through which energy is collected by the at least one detector.

6 . The monitoring device of claim 4 , wherein the surface is shaped to conform to a portion of the ear at the second location.

7 . The monitoring device of claim 4 , wherein the window comprises at least one opening.

8 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals io produced by the at least one detector.

9 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric arm comprises a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the elastomeric arm and/or the sensing element.

10 . The monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element comprises a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the elastomeric arm and/or the sensing element.

11 . A monitoring device, comprising:
a biasing element having opposite first and second end portions; a sensing element attached to the biasing element second end portion; and a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the biasing element and/or sensing element; wherein the monitoring device is configured to be attached within a portion of an ear of a subject such that the biasing element first end portion engages the ear at a first location and such that the sensing element is urged by the biasing member into contact with the ear at a second location, and wherein the biasing element is configured to decouple motion of the biasing element first end portion from the sensing element.

12 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing element comprises the motion sensor.

13 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the sensing element comprises the motion sensor.

14 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing element first end portion is configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal.

15 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the sensing io element comprises at least one energy emitter configured to direct energy at a target region of the ear and at least one detector configured to detect an energy response signal from the target region or a region adjacent the target region.

16 . The monitoring device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one energy emitter is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation, mechanical energy, acoustical energy, electrical energy, and/or thermal energy at the target region, and wherein the at least one detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, mechanical energy, acoustical energy, electrical energy, and/or thermal energy.

17 . The monitoring device of claim 15 , wherein the at least one energy emitter comprises at least one optical emitter and wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one optical detector.

18 . The monitoring device of claim 15 , wherein the sensing element comprises a surface having a window through which energy passes from the at least one energy emitter, and through which energy is collected by the at least one detector.

19 . The monitoring device of claim 15 , wherein the sensing element comprises a surface having a first window through which energy passes from the at least one energy emitter, and a second window through which energy is collected by the at least one detector.

20 . The monitoring device of claim 18 , wherein the surface is shaped to conform to a portion of the ear at the second location.

21 . The monitoring device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one window comprises at least one opening.

22 . The monitoring device of claim 15 , wherein the sensing element comprises a signal processor configured to receive and process signals produced by the at least one detector.

23 . The monitoring device of claim 11 , wherein the motion sensor is an inertial sensor, MEMS sensor, and/or a piezoelectric sensor.

24 . A monitoring device, comprising:
a housing configured to be attached to an ear of a subject, wherein the housing has a first mass; a sensing element movably secured to the housing via a biasing element, wherein the sensing element has a second mass that is less than the first mass, wherein the biasing element is configured to urge the sensing element into contact with a portion of the ear, wherein the biasing element has opposite first and second end portions, wherein the housing is attached to the biasing element first end portion and the sensing element is attached to the biasing element second end portion, and wherein the biasing element is configured to decouple motion of the biasing element first end portion from the sensing element; and a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the biasing element and/or sensing element.

25 . The monitoring device of claim 24 , wherein the biasing element comprises the motion sensor.

26 . The monitoring device of claim 24 , wherein the sensing element comprises the motion sensor.

27 . The monitoring device of claim 24 , wherein the sensing element comprises at least one energy emitter configured to direct energy at a target region of the ear and at least one detector configured to detect an energy response signal from the target region or a region adjacent to the target region.

28 . The monitoring device of claim 27 , wherein the at least one energy emitter is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation, mechanical energy, acoustical energy, electrical energy, and/or thermal energy at the target region, and wherein the at least one detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation, mechanical energy, acoustical energy, electrical energy, and/or thermal energy.

29 . The monitoring device of claim 27 , wherein the sensing element comprises a

Assignees

• Valencell Inc

Inventors

• Just Steven Matthew
• Tucker Jesse Berkley
• Splinter Robert
• Leboeuf Steven Francis

Classifications

• A61B5/11

  Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)} · CPC title

• A61B5/14552

  Details of sensors specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• H04R1/1016

  Earpieces of the intra-aural type · CPC title

• A61B5/681

  Wristwatch-type devices · CPC title

• A61B5/14551

  for measuring blood gases · CPC title